On my Galaxy Nexus running 4.2.1, I see two Settings apps in Settings > Apps. One is name Settings (28KB) and the other is Settings Storage (520KB). Both have the version 4.2.1-533553. Is the storage one for handling the Settings > Storage screen? If so why is there a separate app for that? If not, what is it for?

1 Answer
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Settings Storage, technically speaking, is actually an internal app that manages the content provider framework for Settings itself. It also registers itself upon Android boot-up.

The Settings storage backing data store handler, really, uses an Sqlite database, which is in the public domain and free to use.

This database is required to hold the settings for updating and retrieval via the Setting's internal content provider, which is integrated through-out the ROM in itself, so everything that is seen through Menu > Settings, "talk" to the content provider" and that in itself, handles the backing store.

Also, that Settings own content provider is actually global through-out the ROM, irrespective of Android version, so that the system apps and user apps can use that to check on it by querying it and act accordingly.

Most apps I've seen and a few that I've made communicate directly with the SQLite database. Do you have any idea what the benefit of pulling the database into a separate app is?
– gsingh2011Jan 9 '13 at 3:03

Settings is part of the ROM in itself (and not a separate app strictly speaking), when tapping on Menu > Settings, everything in that is stored in the backing database.. specifically, Settings have their own content provider. Some apps need a backing store and some do not craft their own content provider hence directly communicate with Sqlite, depends. But sticking to the context of your question...
– t0mm13bJan 9 '13 at 3:19